Cigarette making machines

ABSTRACT

A cigarette making machine comprises an air-pervious conveyor band having two runs extending around two spaced pulleys and arranged to receive a tobacco stream on one of the runs which tobacco stream is retained thereon by suction. After passing around one of the pulleys and while passing along the second run of the band, the tobacco stream is trimmed after which it is transferred by a transfer wheel to a continuous wrapper web in which the tobacco stream is enclosed to form a continuous cigarette rod. At least one pulley has spaced side walls for supporting the opposite longitudinal edges respectively of the band so that suction passing through the foraminous band and spaced between the side walls will retain the filler stream on the band against centrifugal force during passage over the pulley. The rim of the transfer wheel is perforated for retaining the tobacco stream by means of suction and stationary side walls confine the opposite sides of the tobacco stream on the transfer wheel.

[ Aug. 7, 1973 CIGARETTE MAKING MACHINES [75] Inventor: Francis A. M. Labbe,

Neuilly-sur-Seine, France [73] Assignee: Molins Machine Company Limited, London, England [22] Filed: June 16, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 46,596

[52] US. Cl 131/84 C [51] Int. Cl. A24c' 5/18 [58] Field of Search 131/84 R, 84 B, 84 C, 131/110, 21 D [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,316,917 5/1967 Richter t. 131/84C 3,306,305 2/1967 Molins 131/84 B 3,297,040 l/1967 Gamberini. 131/84 C 3,030,965 4/1962 Labbe 131/84 B 3,059,650 10/1962 Gamberini 131/84 B FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,083,249 9/1967 Great Britain 131/84 B 917,245 l/l963 Great Britain 131/84 C 1,125,826 3/1962 Germany 131/84 B Primary Examiner-Joseph S. Reich Attorney-Lowry, Rinehart, Markva and Smith [57] ABSTRACT A cigarette making machine comprises an air-pervious conveyor band having two runs extending around two spaced pulleys and arranged to receive a tobacco stream on one of the runs which tobacco stream is retained thereon by suction. After passing around one of the pulleys and while passing along the second run of the band, the tobacco stream is trimmed after which it is transferred by a transfer wheel to a continuous wrapper web in which the tobacco stream is enclosed to form a continuous cigarette rod. At least one pulley has spaced side walls for supporting the opposite longitudinal edges respectively of the band so that suction passing through the foraminous band and spaced between the side walls will retain the filler stream on the band against centrifugal force during passage over the pulley. The rim of the transfer wheel is perforated for retaining the tobacco stream by means of suction and stationary side walls confine the opposite sides of the tobacco stream on the transfer wheel.

18 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures mmgmus nan Inventor fklw/s fluauszz MAURICE [4555 0% Mr. I

A florneys CIGARETTE MAKING MACHINES The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for producing cigarettes in which a continuous rod is formed from a tobacco stream enclosed in a continuous web.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,030,966 and 3,088,467 describe prior art cigarette making machines in which the tobacco stream which forms the cigarette filler is built up on a suction band which carries the tobacco on to the paper web in which the filler is enclosed to form a cigarette rod.

A cigarette making machine according to the present invention comprises an air-pervous band arranged to carry a tobacco stream by means of suction towards a moving web in which the tobacco stream is enclosed to form a cigarette rod and includes a transfer wheel which receives the tobacco stream from the band and carries it by means of suction on to the web.

In a preferred arrangement according to this invention where the suction transfer wheel is of substantially the same width as the tobacco stream, the suction band is considerably wider and has a rough surface to engage the stream. The extra width of the suction band improves the durability of the band, while the roughness improves the grip on the tobacco stream.

An example of a machine according to this invention is shown diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings. In these drawings:-

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional and elevational view of a cigarette making machine in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view of a pulley taken along the line lI-ll of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the transfer wheel taken along the line III-III of FIG. 1.

The machine shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1 is similar to those described in'the previously mentioned patents in that the tobacco is carried by air up a vertical chimney I and builds up to form a stream against the bottom surface of a suction band 12. However, instead of moving towards the paper web 14, as previously, the suction band 12 carries the stream in the opposite direction and passes round a pulley 16 and finally returns round a pulley 18. Towards the end of the upper run of the suction band there is a trimmer 20 which may be as described in the previously mentioned patents.

The tobacco stream is transferred from the suction band to the paper web 14 by a transfer wheel 22 which rotates in a clockwise direction as illustrated. As shown in FIG. 3, the wheel 22 has a perforated periphery 24 through which air is drawn by suction which communicates with a space inside the wheel so as to hold against the periphery a trimmed tobacco stream 26. The sides of the stream 26 are confined by stationary walls 28. These walls may carry a tongue (not shown) which aledge portions run between stationary guides (not shown) while the suction band is passing betweenthe pulleys l6 and 18. As shown in FIG. 2, pulley 16 is hollow, and the portion adjacent to the edges of the band pass round the side walls of the pulley. The space inside the pulley I6 is connected to suction so as to hold the tobacco stream against the band. In addition there are stationary parts 32 and 34 which extend along the path of the band and confine the sides of the stream. It will be seen that the height of the-tobacco stream 26 measured in a direction normal to the band as s hown in FIG. 3 is less than the height shown in FIG. 2, the reason being that the height of the stream is reduced by the trimmer 20.

In order to enclose the stream while on the suction band, there may be a stationary shroud 36 as shown in FIG. 2. This may be spaced from the members 32 and 34 so as to allow air to enter, as shown by the arrows.

The surface of the band engaging the tobacco stream is preferably rough as indicated schematicaly in FIG. 2, so as to give a good grip on the stream. This roughness, in the case of a metal band, preferably maytake the form of ribs extending across the band. For example, these ribs may be like louvers defining ridges and suction openings; a band in this form may be made by cutting lateral slits partially across a thin web-like film of metal (for example nickel) which is then stretched so as to produce in effect a form of expanded metal, after which the required band thickness is built up by depositing further metal on the film.

There may be a scraper (not shown) above the paper web 14 to assist in removing the stream from the suction wheel 22 and depositing it on the paper web in a manner similar to that used in the Molins Mark 8 cigarette-making machine.

ters the cross-section ofthe stream as it approaches the Instead of the transfer wheel 22 being as shown and having stationary walls 26 and 28 to confine the sides of the tobacco stream, it may consist of a peripherally grooved wheel with an air-pervious bottom for the groove through which the suction in the wheel acts to hold the tobacco stream in the groove.

Iclaim:

l. A cigarette making machine comprising an airpervious band arranged to pass round at least two pulleys; means for forming a tobacco filler stream by showering tobacco onto one run of the band; means for applying suction through the band to hold the filler stream on the band; means for trimming the tobacco filler stream while it is moving along a second run of the band, after having passed round one of the pulleys; means for transferring the trimmed tobacco stream from the band to a continuous wrapper web; and means for enclosing the trimmed tobacco stream in the wrapper web to form a continuous cigarette rod.

2. A cigarette making machine comprising an airpervious conveyor band having two runs extending between two spaced pulleys round which the conveyor band passes; means for feeding and holding tobacco pneumatically on to one of the said runs of the band to form a filler stream; means for trimming the tiller stream on the other run of the band; and a transfer wheel which receives the trimmed filler stream from the band and carries it by means of suction on to a wrapper web; whereby the trimmed filler stream may be enclosed in a wrapper web to form a continuous cigarette rod.

3. A cigarette making machine according to claim 2 including fixed arcuate rails for confining the sides of the filler stream while it is on'the transfer wheel.

4. A cigarette making machine according to claim 2 in which the band is substantially wider than the filler stream.

5. A cigarette making machine according to claim 2 in which the band has a rough surface for contacting the filler stream.

6. A cigarette making machine comprising an airpervious conveyor band having two runs extending between two spaced pulleys round which the conveyor band passes; means for feeding tobacco on to one of the said runs of the band moving towards a first one of the said pulleys to form a filler stream; means defining a suction space between the two runs of the band, whereby suction acts through the band to hold the tiller stream against the band; the said first pulley comprising spaced side walls which respectively support the two edges of the band while leaving between them a space which communicates with the said suction space, whereby suction acts through the part of the band extending between the said side walls to hold the tiller stream on the band against the centrifugal force which tends to move the filler stream outwards from the band; the sides of the filler stream in the region of the said first pulley being confined between fixed arcuate rails extending round the side walls, the edges of the band lying between the said side walls and the said arcuate rails; and including means for receiving the tiller stream from the band at a transfer point adjacent to the second of the pulleys, and means for enclosing the filler stream in a continuous wrapper web to form a cigarette rod.

7. A cigarette making machine according to claim 6 in which the means for receiving the filler stream from the band comprises a suction transfer wheel which carries the filler stream on to the said continuous wrapper web.

8. A cigarette making machine according to claim 6 including means for trimming the tiller stream while it is on the second run of the band.

9. A cigarette making machine comprising an airpervious conveyor; means for forming a tobacco filler stream on the conveyor; means for applying suction through the conveyor to hold the filler stream on the conveyor and to compress it; means for trimming the filler stream on the said conveyor; a hollow transfer wheel having an air-pervious rim for receiving the trimmed and compressed filler stream directly from the conveyor, without changing the structure of'the filler stream, and carrying it by means of suction along a curved path to a position at which the tiller stream is deposited directly on to a continuous wrapper web, and fixed rails at opposite sides of the rim of said transfer wheel for substantially entirely confining the filler stream at the opposite sides thereof, whereby the outer layer of the tiller stream which remains on the conveyor after trimming and which is of relatively low density is brought into contact with the air-pervious rim of the transfer wheel and is thus compressed by the action of the suction applied through the transfer wheel before the filler stream is deposited on to the continuous web, whereas the inner layer of the filler stream formed initially adjacent to the conveyor is loosened slightly by centrifugal force while the filler stream is being carried by the said transfer wheel, thus tending toeven-out the density across the thickness of the filler stream.

10. In a cigarette making machine a. an endless foraminous belt for supporting and conveying a tobacco filler stream,

b. pulley means supporting and guiding said belt along a closed path including at least two runs,

c. said pulley means including a pulley mounted between said two runs and having spaced side walls defining a space therebetween, the peripheries of said side walls supporting the opposite longitudinal edges respectively of the band with the perforations in said band communicating with said space between said side walls and a pair of stationary arcuate rails positioned a spaced distance from the peripheries of the sidewalls respectively of said one pulley, said rails being arranged to confine the tiller stream on the band therebetween, the respective edges of the band lying between the peripheries of said side walls and said arcuate rails, and

d. means for directing an airstream through said perforations in said band and into said space as said pulley rotates and said band moves over said pulicy,

e. whereby the filler stream is retained on the hand against the action of centrifugal force during passage over said pulley.

11. In a cigarette making machine a. a plurality of pulleys,

b. a foraminous endless band arranged to pass along a path around said pulleys, the portions of said band extending along said path between said pulleys constituting runs of said band,

c. at least one of said pulleys comprising spaced side walls defining a space therebetween, the peripheries of said side walls supporting the opposite longitudinal edges respectively of the band with the perforations in said band communicating with said space between said side walls,

(1. means for forming a tobacco filler stream on one of the runs of said band,

e. means for directing an air stream through at least a part of the foraminous band and into said space in said one pulley to retain said tiller stream on said band and against the action of centrifugal force during passage over said pulley, and

f. means for trimming said filler stream while positioned on another run of said band after passing over said one pulley.

12. In a cigarette making machine as defined in claim 11 further comprising a. means for feeding a continuous wrapper web along a further path, and

b. means for transferring the trimmed tobacco filler stream directly from said band to said wrapper web substantially without changing the structure of the tiller stream during the transfer, whereby the trimmed tobacco filler stream may be enclosed in the wrapper web to form a continuous cigarette rod.

13. In a cigarette making machine as defined in claim 11 wherein said means for forming a tobacco filler stream is adapted to shower tobaccoonto one of the runs of said band.

14. In a cigarette making machine as defined in claim 1 1 further comprising apair of stationary arcuate rails positioned a spaced distance from the peripheries of the side walls rexpectively of said one pulley, said rails being arranged to confine the tiller stream on the band therebetween, the respective edges of the band lying between the peripheries of said side walls and said arcuate rails.

15. In a cigarette making machine as defined in claim 12 wherein said band supports one side of said filler stream and said transfer means includes a surface arranged to receive and support said trimmed tobacco filler stream on the side opposite said one side thereof.

16. In a cigarette making machine as defined in claim 15 wherein said support surface of said transfer means is air-previous and said transfer means is adapted to convey said trimmed tobacco filler stream along a convex curved path, said machine further comprising means for directing an air stream through said support surface to retain said trimmed tobacco filler stream on said surface while passing along said curved path, whereby the tobacco adjacent said other side of said trimmed filler stream which is of relatively low density when received from said first conveyor means, is compressed against said support surface of said transfer means and the tobacco adjacent said one side of said trimmed tobacco filler stream which is of relatively high density is loosened by centrifugal force while passing along said curved path to provide a trimmed filler b. means for forming a tobacco filler stream on the conveyor,

c. means for applying suction through the conveyor to hold the filler stream on the conveyor and to compress it,

- d. a hollow transfer wheel having an air-pervious rim for receiving the compressed filler stream directly from the air pervious conveyor and carrying the filler stream by means of suction applied through the rim to a position at which the filler stream is deposited directly on to a continuous wrapper web, and

e. fixed arcuate side rails mounted on opposite sides of the rim of said transfer wheel for contacting and confining the entire opposite side surfaces of the filler stream while on the wheel. 

1. A cigarette making machine comprising an air-pervious band arranged to pass round at least two pulleys; means for forming a tobacco filler stream by showering tobacco onto one run of the band; means for applying suction through the band to hold the filler stream on the band; means for trimming the tobacco filler stream while it is moving along a second run of the band, after having passed round one of the pulleys; means for transferring the trimmed tobacco stream from the band to a continuous wrapper web; and means for enclosing the trimmed tobacco stream in the wrapper web to form a continuous cigarette rod.
 2. A cigarette making machine comprising an air-pervious conveyor band having two runs extending between two spaced pulleys round which the conveyor band passes; means for feeding and holding tobacco pneumatically on to one of the said runs of the band to form a filler stream; means for trimming the filler stream on the other run of the band; and a transfer wheel which receives the trimmed filler stream from the band and carries it by means of suction on to a wrapper web; whereby the trimmed filler stream may be enclosed in a wrapper web to form a continuous cigarette rod.
 3. A cigarette making machine according to claim 2 including fixed arcuate rails for confining the sides of the filler stream while it is on the transfer wheel.
 4. A cigarette making machine according to claim 2 in which the band is substantially wider than the filler stream.
 5. A cigarette making machine according to claim 2 in which the band has a rough surface for contacting the filler stream.
 6. A cigarette making machine comprising an air-pervious conveyor band having two runs extending between two spaced pulleys round which the conveyor band passes; means for feeding tobacco on to one of the said runs of the band moving towards a first one of the said pulleys to form a filler stream; means defining a suction space between the two runs of the band, whereby suction acts through the band to hold the filler stream against the band; the said first pulley comprising spaced side walls which respectively support the two edges of the band while leaving between them a space which communicates with the said suction space, whereby suction acts through the part of the band extending between the said side walls to hold the filler stream on the band against the centrifugal force which tends to move the filler stream outwards from the band; the sides of the filler stream in the region of the said first pulley being confined between fixed arcuate rails extending round the side walls, the edges of the band lying between the said side walls and the said arcuate rails; and including means for receiving the filler stream from the band at a transfer point adjacent to the second of the pulleys, and means for enclosing the filler stream in a continuous wrapper web to form a cigarette rod.
 7. A cigarette making machine according to claim 6 in which the means for receiving the filler stream from the band comprises a suction transfer wheel which carries the filler stream on to the said continuous wrapper web.
 8. A cigarette making machine according to claim 6 including means for trimming the filler stream while it is on the second run of the band.
 9. A cigarette making machine comprising an air-pervious conveyor; means for forming a tobacco filler stream on the conveyor; means for applying suction through the conveyor to hold the filler stream on the conveyor and to compress it; means for trimming the filler stream on the said conveyor; a hollow transfer wheel having an air-pervious rim for receiving the trimmed and compressed filler stream directly from the conveyor, without changing the structure of the filler stream, and carrying it by means of suction along a curved path to a position at which the filler stream is deposited directly on to a continuous wrapper web, and fixed rails at opposite sides of the rim of said transfer wheel for substantially entirely confining the filler stream at the opposite sides thereof, whereby the outer layer of the filler stream which remains on the conveyor after trimming and which is of relatively low density is brought into contact with the air-pervious rim of the transfer wheel and is thus compressed by the action of the suction applied through the transfer wheel before the filler stream is deposited on to the continuous web, whereas the inner layer of the filler stream formed initially adjacent to the conveyor is loosened slightly by centrifugal force while the filler stream is being carried by the said transfer wheel, thus tending to even out the density across the thickness of the filler stream.
 10. In a cigarette making machine a. an endless foraminous belt for supporting and conveying a tobacco filler stream, b. pulley means supporting and guiding said belt along a closed path including at least two runs, c. said pulley means including a pulley mounted between said two runs and having spaced side walls defining a space therebetween, the peripheries of said side walls supporting the opposite longitudinal edges respectively of the band with the perforations in said band communicating with said space between said side walls and a pair of stationary arcuate rails positioned a spaced distance from the peripheries of the side walls respectively of said one pulley, said rails being arranged to confine the filler stream on the band therebetween, the respective edges of the band lying between the peripheries of said side walls and said arcuate rails, and d. means for directing an air stream through said perforations in said band and into said space as said pulley rotates and said band moves over said pulley, e. whereby the filler stream is retained on the band against the action of centrifugal force during passage over said pulley.
 11. In a cigarette making machine a. a plurality of pulleys, b. a foraminous endless band arranged to pass along a path around said pulleys, the portions of said band extending along said path between said pulleys constituting runs of said band, c. at least one of said pulleys comprising spaced side walls defining a space therebetween, the peripheries of said side walls supporting the opposite longitudinal edges respectively of the band with the perforations in said band communicating with said space between said side walls, d. means for forming a tobacco filler stream on one of the runs of said band, e. means for directing an air stream through at least a part of the foraminous band and into said space in said one pulley to retain said filler stream on said band and against the action of centrifugal force during passage over said pulley, and f. means for trimming said filler stream while positioned on another run of said band after passing over said one pulley.
 12. A cigarette making machine as defined in claim 11 further comprising a. means for feeding a continuous wrapper web along a further path, and b. means for transferring the trimmed tobacco filler stream directly from said band to said wrapper web substantially without changing the structure of the filler stream during the transfer, whereby the trimmed tobacco filler stream may be enclosed in the wrapper web to form a continuous cigarette rod.
 13. A cigarette making machine as defined in claim 11 wherein said means for forming a tobacco filler stream is adapted to shower tobacco onto one of the runs of said band.
 14. A cigarette making machine as defined in claim 11 further comprising a pair of stationary arcuate rails positioned a spaced distance from the peripheries of the side walls rexpectively of said one pulley, said rails being arranged to confine the filler stream on the band therebetween, the respective edges of the band lying between the peripheries of said side walls and said arcuate rails.
 15. A cigarette making machine as defined in claim 12 wherein said band supports one side of said filler stream and said transfer means includes a surface arranged to receive and support said trimmed tobacco filler stream on the side opposite said one side thereof.
 16. A cigarette making machine as defined in claim 15 wherein said support surface of said transfer means is air-pervious and said transfer means is adapted to convey said trimmed tobacco filler stream along a convex curved path, said machine further comprising means for directing an air stream through said support surface to retain said trimmed tobacco filler stream on said surface while passing along said curved path, whereby the tobacco adjacent said other side of said trimmed filler stream which is of relatively low density when received from said first conveyor means, is compressed against said support surface of said transfer means and the tobacco adjacent said one side of said trimmed tobacco filler stream which is of relatively high density is loosened by centrifUgal force while passing along said curved path to provide a trimmed filler stream having a more uniform density.
 17. A cigarette making machine as defined in claim 16 wherein said means for transferring the trimmed tobacco filler stream from said band to said wrapper web is a suction wheel.
 18. A cigarette making machine comprising a. an air-pervious conveyor, b. means for forming a tobacco filler stream on the conveyor, c. means for applying suction through the conveyor to hold the filler stream on the conveyor and to compress it, d. a hollow transfer wheel having an air-pervious rim for receiving the compressed filler stream directly from the air pervious conveyor and carrying the filler stream by means of suction applied through the rim to a position at which the filler stream is deposited directly on to a continuous wrapper web, and e. fixed arcuate side rails mounted on opposite sides of the rim of said transfer wheel for contacting and confining the entire opposite side surfaces of the filler stream while on the wheel. 